Poverty Dimensions of Public Governance and Forest Management ...

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parkland communities, in which charcoal production is focussed, are more represented in this
study than semi-deciduous forest communities.
Research focussed on developing an individually administered questionnaire which examined
farming practices and strategies, livelihood options, use of other natural resources, perceptions of
the physical environment and of policy processes. These interviews sought to gain representation
for different groups of farmers including migrants, women and youth (see table 5.1). In addition a
number of informal group interviews were initiated, particularly to explore resource conflicts, as
in the case of groups of migrant charcoal burners and youth, but also to solicit women’s
perceptions. Select interviews were also held with small groups of farmer after the survey had
been analysed to solicit feedback and insights of some of the findings. Informal group discussions
were also held with farmers at Atuna, situated off the road behind Jensoso, a small settlement of
about 500 migrant Dagaabas who had acquired land from the chief of Jensoso. At the large town
of Nsawkaw the area under investigation was not the whole settlement but the area under the
jurisdiction of one Assembly Member, which included part of the town and the two outlying
villages of Tanoso and Njau. This enabled the political dynamics of the relationships between
different levels of administrative personnel to be observed and their ramification in some of the
processes of conflict and negotiation in natural resource management, particularly around
charcoal.
5.1.4 Assembly Members Survey
A second survey of 35 Assembly Members and 55 Unit Committees was also carried out in the
Wenchi district to solicit information on the processes of rural administration and perceptions of
the role of natural resource management in district administration. Interviews were also held with
key personnel in the district and regional administrations. The results of this are in the process of
being written up as the M.Phil thesis of Eric Sam-Quartey, a member of the research team.
5.1.5 Land cover change sub-project
During the course of the research, an additional land cover change sub-project was agreed with
NRSP management, and supplementary funding provided. This study was launched in February
2002, and will report in April or May. It is examining the dynamics of land-use change in the
northern transitional zone and the extent to which the land cover has been transformed by human
intervention. The study is being undertaken by the Remote Censing Unit in the Department of
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